2024 SSN ROUND 14

Problem for both of these teams is majority for their 10 are locked in.

Swifts defence seems to escape a lot of the criticism but it was ordinary all year. For all their experience at that end of the court they should have been better. O’Shannassy’s injury no doubt impacted them and they need to transition her into their starting line next year. Overall Swifts remind me of Vixens a few years back great players but stale. Opponents have them worked out. I remember after they won TGC thinking for all their consistency in lineup they should have been a long way ahead of their opponents who had new lineups and rookies playing and they weren’t. Smith is happy in Sydney but her netball is not thriving and developing as it was in Melbourne, whilst they play different positions it’s a valid comparison given they were in the NV pathway together and that is Smith was way ahead of Mundy a couple of years back but not now. Swifts need to solve WD. How long is Fraser contracted at Mavs for? Fraser may want to be a WA but her feeding is way too hesitant and realistically her best position is WD then C then WA and unless Parmenter wants to develop her C game Fraser isn’t playing WD at Mavs.

I wouldn’t have Fawns and Palavi in the same team. I’d take Palavi but Fawns is already signed. I can see Palavi finding an excellent home at a NZ team.

May be, just maybe, Swifts are missing Bulley as defensive coach?
Hmmmm

In regards to the Giants is J F the right choice for the team going forward.
Sure we had some close games but her use of her bench players (hardly ever) was to me a telling factor in the position the team ended up with. Frustrating

Giants midcourt has not been the problem this season. Lack of height in defence was showing, and the shooting end was too inconsistent.

As mentioned above, they need a strong target shooter and a tall GK.

Lightning: does Bruce and Ervin stay for next year? Or does one of them need to go, for more/consistent court time?
I also think they need a target shooter too.
On another note, “IF” Ekenasio was to join Lightning, it’ll be the first time in history that you will both the SFs/Diamond captains playing together.

I am not denying that Swifts have all the dilemmas noted above, but you do have to wonder just how much the off court stuff impacted on performance?

I find the Giants baffling. Particularly the recruitment and coaching over a number of years. I am a huge fan of Harten and I think she still has value but it isn’t working for Giants and hasn’t for a while.

Strongly agree re:Fawns needing to become a GA.

On the lightning front koenan really needs to add the super shot to her game. Sure Steph is obviously the better option, but the fact she will never take one is ridiculous. Even RAG and JFR, while obviously not the first choice option still take them if they must.

@deucelow I totally forgot about that!

Those 17/18 Lightning teams were pretty special. Geva Mentur and Pretorius on there as well, in addition to Wood (now Fretwell) and Koenen.

Dame Noelene as coach. A true dream team and even an argument for one of the strongest sides assembled anywhere in the great game of netball.